Girl Sexually Assaulted In Bolton Library

A teenage girl with learning difficulties has been sexually assaulted in a Bolton library.

It happened at about 5:30pm on Tuesday 5 July evening, the 14-year-old victim was sitting at a computer in High Street library, High Street, Deane.

A man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her. The attack was seen by staff who confronted him but he ran off with another man.

Two days later, at around 11.45am on Thursday 7 July, the victim's mother was on Deane Road, outside Sunning Hill School, when she saw the suspect.

She confronted him, saying the police were after him, and he again ran off, turning right onto Sandon Street.

He is described as Asian, in his late teens, wearing silver glasses with thick metal frames, a long sleeved white shirt with thin pinstripes and dark trousers.

Detective Constable Adam Gleave, of Bolton CID, said:

'This must have been a very disturbing incident for the victim who is not only young, but has learning difficulties.

'She has been seen by specially trained officers and we have reassured both her and her family that we are confident of catching this man.

'We believe this man lives in the Deane area because, on the day he was confronted by the mother, it was raining very heavily and he was not wearing a jacket. We therefore think he was probably close to home or work.

'Also, when the attack happened in the library he was with another man who may or may not have seen what happened. There is no suggestion that he has done anything wrong, so I would also appeal for him to pick up the phone and tell us what he knows.

'His friend carried out a disturbing attack on a young girl in a public place and we would really appreciate him getting in touch.'